Firstgroup had a common problem in their main computer room. The cabinet that had been originally installed to house their network equipment and cabling had over-grown into two cabinets. Unfortunately the second cabinet could not be installed adjacent to the original one.
The second cabinet was therefore installed off-line to the original. As more cabling was installed into the new cabinet the patch leads became unmanageable and very untidy. The original cabinet is the one set back in the alcove. As you can see in the photograph the patch leads actually loop from in and out of the cabinets via the front doors. This problem was about to be compounded.
Kemson Technology had the contract to install additional
horizontal cabling to the existing structured cabling, along with a voice
backbone. This meant installing another communications cabinet adjacent
the second cabinet. This would have produced an almighty mess and patching
would have also become a bigger headache.
Unfortunately the original cabinet could not be brought forward
to line up, as the cables that fed in the base at the rear did not have
enough length on them.
The area was redesigned using the open racking system, as this
allowed the cables to be fed in at the top creating more length.
The two existing cabinets where cleared from the room one weekend and the installation of the new racking was started.
The racks are bolted to the floor at the base and held at the top by wall supports, creating a very solid framework.
Once the racking was complete the network equipment could be
re-installed.
All done over a bank holiday weekend. 
Original Cabinet
Frame Assembly
Open Racking System
Structured Cabling
Finished System
This then allowed us to get on with our initial contract to install new
voice backbone patch panels and new horizontal patch panels. What impresses most customers with the open racking system, is the size
of the patch lead management, both horizontal and vertical.
"I have installed a number of
these for my customers to date, and the response from the IT manager is
always good. The accessibility of an open rack combined with the quality
of the open racking system brings back the flexibility and space into an
expanding communications room" states Colin Powell of Kemson
Technology.
Should you require any further information on installation
of equipment rooms then please contact us either via
e-mail on sales@kemson.co.uk or 07710
812833